U.S. patent number 10,865,974 [Application Number 16/618,888] was granted by the patent office on 2020-12-15 for solid state lighting lamp.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.. The grantee listed for this patent is SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.. Invention is credited to Xiaoqing Duan, Linggen Mo, Zhigang Pei.
United States Patent |
10,865,974 |
Duan , et al. |
December 15, 2020 |
Solid state lighting lamp
Abstract
A solid state lighting lamp (10) is disclosed comprising a
plurality of heatsink modules (40) each extending in alignment with
a central axis (15) of the lamp, each heatsink module carrying a
plurality of solid state lighting elements (50); and a body (20)
extending in alignment with said central axis and delimiting an
inner volume of the lamp, wherein the heatsink modules are affixed
to said body. The body is the optical housing, i.e. the light exit
window of the lamp.
Inventors: |
Duan; Xiaoqing (Shanghai,
CN), Pei; Zhigang (Shanghai, CN), Mo;
Linggen (Shanghai, CN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V. |
Eindhoven |
N/A |
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
(Eindhoven, NL)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005243915 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/618,888 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2018 |
PCT
Filed: |
June 01, 2018 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2018/064395 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
December 03, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/224393 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 13, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200088396 A1 |
Mar 19, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Jun 8, 2017 [WO] |
|
|
PCT/CN2017/087581 |
Aug 7, 2017 [EP] |
|
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17185068 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
29/83 (20150115); F21K 9/237 (20160801); F21V
17/104 (20130101); F21V 29/71 (20150115); F21K
9/232 (20160801); F21Y 2103/10 (20160801); F21Y
2107/50 (20160801); F21V 3/04 (20130101); F21Y
2115/10 (20160801) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
21/00 (20060101); F21V 29/71 (20150101); F21V
17/10 (20060101); F21K 9/237 (20160101); F21K
9/232 (20160101); F21V 29/83 (20150101); F21V
3/04 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;362/249.02,218,223,225,345,547 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
202008011 |
|
Oct 2011 |
|
CN |
|
203431609 |
|
Feb 2014 |
|
CN |
|
3208519 |
|
Aug 2017 |
|
EP |
|
2016058285 |
|
Apr 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016098464 |
|
Jun 2016 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Tso; Laura K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Piotrowski; Daniel J.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A solid state lighting lamp comprising: a plurality of heatsink
modules each extending in alignment with a central axis of the
lamp, each heatsink module having an outward facing surface and an
inner surface opposite to the outward facing surface, and carrying
a plurality of solid state lighting elements on the outward facing
surface; a body extending in alignment with said central axis and
delimiting an inner volume of the lamp, wherein the body is
cylindrical and defines a light exit window of the solid state
lighting lamp, and each heatsink module is affixed to an inner
surface of said body; a base including an electrical connector; and
a cap opposite said base; wherein the body and the heatsink modules
extend between the base and the cap, and each of the cap and the
base comprises a plurality of air vents, so as to generate an air
flow substantially in parallel with the central axis through the
solid state lighting lamp; wherein each heatsink module is affixed
to said body by at least one tongue and groove coupling.
2. The solid state lighting lamp of claim 1, wherein the air flow
runs over the solid state lighting elements on the outward facing
surface of the heatsink module and over the inner surface of the
heatsink modules.
3. The solid state lighting lamp of claim 1, wherein each heat sink
module is made of a bent sheet metal.
4. The solid state lighting lamp of any of claim 1, further
comprising a further body within the body and a driver for said
solid state lighting elements housed within said further body.
5. The solid state lighting lamp of claim 1, wherein each plurality
of solid state lighting elements is arranged as at least one linear
array of solid state lighting elements aligned with said central
axis.
6. The solid state lighting lamp of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a
high pressure sodium (HPS) or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)
replacement lamp.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of International Application No.
PCT/EP2018/064395, filed on Jun. 1, 2018, which claims the benefit
of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/087581, filed on Jun.
8, 2017 and European Patent Application No. 17185068.8, filed on
Aug. 7, 2017. These applications are hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solid state lighting lamp
comprising a plurality of heatsink modules each extending in
alignment with a central axis of the lamp, each optical module
carrying a plurality of solid state lighting elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern society is witnessing a shift towards solid state lighting
(SSL) applications such as LED applications. Such applications have
improved longevity, e.g. through improved robustness against
accidental impacts, and superior energy consumption characteristics
compared to traditional light sources such as incandescent and
halogen light sources. One such an application domain is outdoor
lighting, where traditionally HPS and high-intensity discharge
(HIS) lamps have been used to illuminate outdoor areas, e.g. public
outdoor areas such as streets, squares, motorways and so on.
Another type of lamp that is commonly replaced by SSL equivalents
is a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). Such SSL lamps for replacing
HPS lamps, HIS lamps or CFLs have common that they exhibit an
elongated body centred on a central axis, which body often is
cylindrical or polygonal in nature.
An example of such an SSL lamp is disclosed in Chinese utility
model CN 202008011 U, which discloses a LED lamp comprising a
plurality of H-shaped heat sink modules interconnected in a tongue
and groove fashion to form a closed body, wherein each heat sink
module carries a strip of LED elements on an outer surface. Such a
lamp has the advantage that it can be assembled in a
straightforward manner. However, in order to obtain the required
structural integrity of the closed body, each heat sink module is
relatively thick, which increases weight of the lamp and adds to
its cost. This is problematic, as the market for SSL lamps is
notoriously competitive, which depresses profit margins. What is
more, with demand for increasing luminous power to be produced by
such lamps, the thermal requirements become more challenging, which
leads to the weight of the lamp increasing due to larger (heavier)
heat sinks, to such an extent that it becomes challenging to keep
the weight of the lamp below its maximum allowed weight for health
and safety considerations. Consequently, there is a continuing need
to reduce the weight of such SSL lamps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a robust SSL lamp in an
alternative, e.g. a more cost-effective, arrangement.
According to an aspect, there is provided a solid state lighting
lamp comprising a plurality of heatsink modules each extending in
alignment with a central axis of the lamp, each heatsink module
having an outward facing surface and an inner surface opposite to
the outward facing surface, and carrying a plurality of solid state
lighting elements on the outward facing surface; and a body
extending in alignment with said central axis and delimiting an
inner volume of the lamp, wherein the heatsink modules are affixed
to said body.
The present invention is based on the insight that by securing the
heatsink modules to a separate body, the structural integrity of
the lamp may be provided to a large extent by the separate body
such that the heatsink modules may be made more lightweight, e.g.
thinner, thereby reducing the overall weight of the solid state
lighting lamp because the separate body may be made of a
lightweight material such as a polymer material due to the fact
that the separate body does not need to provide a significant
contribution to the thermal dissipation capacity of the heatsink
modules.
Preferably, each heatsink module is affixed to said body by at
least one tongue and groove coupling. This facilitates easy
assembly of the solid state lighting lamp whilst maintaining
structural integrity, which therefore makes this type of coupling
advantageous in terms of assembly efficiency and cost.
In one particular embodiment, the body defines a light exit window
(also referred to as optical housing) of the solid state lighting
lamp, and each heatsink module is affixed to an inner surface of
said body. This for example has the advantage that the heatsink
modules do not have to be affixed to each other, which may be used
to reduce the weight of the lamp and allows for a greater
flexibility in the optical performance of the solid state lighting
lamp. This also assists in achieving improved thermal dissipation
characteristics, for example where an air flow through the solid
state lighting lamp along its central axis can be facilitated, as
the spacing between adjacent heatsink modules allows for more
effective heat transfer between the heatsink modules and the air
flow. Preferably, the air flow runs over the solid state lighting
elements on the inner surface of the heatsink module and over the
inner surface of the heatsink modules
Such a body, i.e. a light exit window or optical housing, may be
cylindrical to achieve a particularly aesthetically pleasing solid
state lighting lamp.
Preferably, each heat sink module is made of a bent sheet metal.
Such heat sink modules can be made cost-effectively and to a low
weight due to the relative thinness of the sheet metal, thereby
aiding to reduce the overall weight of the solid state lighting
lamp.
The solid state lighting lamp may further comprise a further body
within the body and a driver for said solid state lighting elements
housed within said further body. Such a further body may be made of
a lightweight material such as a polymer material and may be used
to secure the driver within the solid state lighting lamp.
In another particular embodiment, the body is arranged inside the
plurality of heatsink modules and the inner volume houses a driver
of the solid state lighting elements. In this embodiment, the
inward facing surfaces of the heatsink modules may be attached to
such a body, which again supports the heatsink modules such that
the heatsink modules may be made of a relatively thin material to
reduce the overall weight of the solid state lighting lamp.
The driver may be secured within said body by at least one tongue
and groove coupling with the body. Consequently, the driver can be
secured within the body in an easy and straightforward manner,
thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and the overall cost of
the solid state lighting lamp.
In an embodiment, an outwardly facing portion of each heatsink
module comprises a recess in which the solid state lighting
elements are mounted, said recess being covered by an optical
element. This has the advantage that a separate light exit window
or optical housing of the solid state lighting lamp may be omitted
as for each heatsink module the solid state lighting elements are
covered by a separate optical element, thereby reducing the overall
weight of the solid state lighting lamp.
Each recess may comprise a mounting surface on which the solid
state lighting elements are mounted, and each heatsink module may
further comprise an outer surface facing said body and a support
rib extending between the mounting surface and the outer surface to
further strengthen the heatsink module and to increase its surface
area to improve the thermal dissipation characteristics of the
heating modules.
Each heatsink module preferably is an extruded aluminium heatsink
module as extrusion can be used to manufacture particularly thin
heating modules, which is beneficial to reducing the overall weight
of the solid state lighting lamp.
The solid state lighting elements may be arranged on the respective
heatsink modules in any suitable manner. In an example embodiment,
each plurality of solid state lighting elements is arranged as at
least one linear array of solid state lighting elements aligned
with said central axis in order to achieve a substantially
homogeneous luminous distribution along the central axis of the
solid state lighting lamp.
The solid state lighting lamp may further comprise a base including
an electrical connector and a cap opposite said base, wherein the
body and the heatsink modules extend between the base and the cap.
Preferably, the cap comprises a plurality of air vents such that
air can flow through the solid state lighting lamp to aid heat
transfer between the heatsink modules and the air within the solid
state lighting lamp such that the temperature of the solid state
lighting elements can be better controlled.
The solid state lighting lamp may be a HPS or CFL replacement lamp
although it should be understood that embodiments of the present
invention are not limited to such replacement lamps; the solid
state lighting lamp may be used to replace any suitable type of
incandescent or fluorescent lamp, or any other type of lamp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail and by
way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 schematically depicts a solid state lighting lamp according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 schematically depicts the solid state lighting lamp of FIG.
1 in which a section of the lamp has been cut out for clarity
purposes;
FIG. 3 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of the solid
state lighting lamp of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to its
central axis;
FIG. 4 schematically depicts another cross-sectional view of a
solid state lighting lamp of FIG. 1 in a plane along its central
axis;
FIG. 5 schematically depicts a perspective view of part of a solid
state lighting lamp according to another embodiment;
FIG. 6 schematically depicts a top view of part of the
cross-section of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 schematically depicts a heatsink module of a solid state
lighting lamp according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 schematically depicts a perspective view of an upper part of
a solid state lighting lamp according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
FIG. 9 schematically depicts a perspective view of a lower part of
a solid state lighting lamp according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and
are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same
reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the
same or similar parts.
FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically depicts a perspective view and FIG. 3
schematically depicts a perspective cross-sectional view of a solid
state lighting lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The solid state lighting lamp 10 comprises an optical
housing 20 extending between a base 60 and a cap 70. FIG. 2
presents the same view of the solid state lighting lamp 10 as FIG.
1, with the exception that in FIG. 2 an elongate portion of the
optical housing 20 has been cut away to show the internals of the
solid state lighting lamp 10. A central axis 15 of the solid state
lighting lamp 10 extends between the base 60 and the cap 70. The
base 60 typically comprises an electrical connector (fitting) for
connecting the solid state lighting lamp to a mains power supply.
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a screw-type (Edison) fitting is shown by way
of non-limiting example only at any suitable type of electrical
connector 65, e.g. a bayonet fitting, a pin-based (e.g. GU or
PAR-type) fitting may be used on the base 60. The optical housing
20 may be affixed to the base 60 and the cap 70 in any suitable
manner. For example, as schematically depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2, the base 60 may comprise a lip 61 against which the optical
housing 20 is secured, e.g. using an adhesive or fixing member such
as screws. Similarly, the cap 70 may be adhered or otherwise
affixed, e.g. using screws, against the optical housing 20.
As will be explained in further detail below, the optical housing
20 acts as the light exit window of the solid state lighting lamp
10. The optical housing 20 may be made of any suitable optically
transmissive material such as glass or preferably optical grade
polymer such as polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate or poly
(methyl methacrylate), or any other suitable optical grade polymer.
The light exit window may be transparent or may be translucent in
order to obscure the internals of the solid state lighting lamp 10
from becoming clearly visible.
As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the solid state lighting
lamp 10 comprises a plurality of elongate heatsink modules 40
extending along the central axis 15 of the solid state lighting
lamp 10. Each elongate heatsink module 40 has a light exit window
facing surface 44 (or outward facing surface 44) carrying a
plurality of solid state lighting (SSL) elements 50, which may be
arranged in one or more linear arrays extending in parallel to the
central axis 15. The SSL elements 50 may be any suitable type of
SSL elements, e.g. white light of colored light-produced LEDs,
which may be controlled in unison, in groups of LEDs or
individually. In the most common embodiment, the SSL elements 50
are controlled in unison.
The SSL elements 50 may be mounted directly on the light exit
window facing surface 44 of its elongate heatsink module 40 or may
be mounted on a carrier 55 such as a PCB or the like, which carrier
is mounted onto the module 40 in any suitable manner, e.g. using an
adhesive, a fixing arrangement such as a tongue and groove
arrangement, fixing members such as screws and so on. The SSL
elements 50 in an embodiment do not extend over the full length of
the elongate heatsink module 40 in between the cap 70 and the base
60. Rather, the SSL elements 50 are concentrated in a central
region of the solid state lighting lamp 10, i.e. facing a central
region of the optical housing 20 in order to mimic the luminous
distribution (e.g. burner region) of a HPS or HIS lamp in case the
solid state lighting lamp 10 is a replacement for such a HPS or HIL
lamp.
Each elongate heatsink module 40 is secured against the optical
housing 20, i.e. the light exit window 20 such that the light exit
window structurally supports the elongate heatsink modules 40. This
has the advantage that each elongate heatsink module 40 can be made
of a thermally conductive material, e.g. a metal or metal alloy,
having a limited thickness to reduce the overall weight of the
solid state lighting lamp 10. In a preferred embodiment, the
elongate heatsink modules 40 are made of a sheet metal bent in the
desired shape for the elongate heatsink modules 40. The elongate
heatsink modules 40 may be secured against the light exit window 20
in any suitable manner although preferably the elongate heatsink
modules 40 are secured against a light exit window 20 using a
tongue and groove-style securing arrangement. For example, each
elongate heatsink module 40 may have a pair of outwardly facing and
opposing tongues 41 for aligning with grooves 21 on the inner
surface of the light exit window or optical housing 20. The grooves
21 may be formed in any suitable manner, for example by a light
exit window or optical housing 20 comprising a plurality of
protruding portions 22 on its inner surface, which protruding
portions define the grooves 21. In FIG. 3 the protruding portions
22 generally have a T-shape to define a pair of grooves 21 on
either side of the vertical bar of the T-shape but it should be
understood that alternative arrangements are of course equally
feasible. One example of such an alternative arrangement is a pair
of opposing L-shaped protrusions 22 in between which a single
elongate heatsink module 40 is secured in the opposing grooves
formed by the L-shaped protrusions. The optical housing or light
exit window 20 comprising such protrusions 22 may be made in any
suitable manner, e.g. through extrusion, injection moulding, or the
like.
In order to further assist the thermal management of the solid
state lighting lamp 10, the cap 70 may comprise a plurality of air
vents 75 for ventilating the internals of the solid state lighting
lamp 10. In particular, air within the solid state lighting lamp 10
typically will be heated by the elongate heatsink modules 40 during
operation of the SSL elements 50 as the heat generated by the SSL
elements 50 is transferred to the air via the elongate heatsink
modules 40. By providing the air vents 75 in the cap 70, such
heated air can escape the solid state lighting lamp 10, e.g.
through convection, thereby allowing cooler air to enter the solid
state lighting lamp 10 and preventing overheating of the lamp.
Alternatively, such air circulation within the solid state lighting
lamp 10 may be forced air circulation, in which case the solid
state lighting lamp 10 may further include a fan (not shown) within
the optical housing 20.
In an embodiment, the base 60 may also include air vents (not
shown) to generate an air flow substantially in parallel with the
central axis 15 through the solid state lighting lamp 10. Such an
air flow may run through the solid state lighting lamp 10 along any
suitable path. For example, the air flow may run over the SSL
elements 50 and/or over the inner surface 46 of the heatsink
modules 40 to assist cooling of the solid state lighting lamp 10.
It should be understood that the solid state lighting lamp 10 may
contain any number of air vents having any suitable shape, in any
suitable location to allow such an air flow through the solid state
lighting lamp 10.
To further aid the thermal management of the solid state lighting
lamp 10, the elongate heatsink modules 40 may be spatially
separated from each other such that air can flow in between
neighboring elongate heatsink modules 40. This is possible because
the elongate heatsink modules 40 not have to be interconnected for
their structural support but instead are mounted on the light exit
window or optical housing 20, which facilitates the spatial
separation of the elongate heatsink modules 40.
The solid state lighting lamp 10 may further comprise a further
body 30' within the light exit window or optical housing 20, which
further body 30' is typically arranged within a central region
inside the solid state lighting lamp 10, i.e. inside the elongate
heatsink modules 40. The further body 30' typically houses the
driver 80 for the SSL elements 50. The driver 80 may be secured
within the further body 30' in any suitable manner. As
schematically depicted by way of non-limiting example in FIG. 3,
the driver 80 may be mounted on a planar carrier 81, with the
further body 30' comprising a pair of opposing grooves 35 into
which the planar carrier 81 slots, which can be considered a tongue
and groove-style coupling between the carrier 81 of the driver 80
and the grooves 35 of the further body 30'. The further body 30'
preferably is made of a lightweight material, e.g. a polymer
material or the like, in order to limit the overall weight of the
solid state lighting lamp 10 for reasons previously explained.
FIG. 4 schematically depicts another cross-sectional view of the
solid state lighting lamp 10 of FIG. 1 in which the solid state
lighting lamp 10 is further shown to contain the further body 30'
housing the driver 80 of the SSL elements 50, with the heat sink
modules 40 being arranged in between the further body 30' and the
optical housing 20.
An alternative embodiment of the solid state lighting lamp 10 will
now be described in more detail with the aid of FIGS. 5-9. FIG. 5
schematically showing a detail of the solid state lighting lamp 10
according to this embodiment in a perspective view, with FIG. 6
schematically showing this detail in a planar view from above.
Compared to the solid state lighting lamp 10 in a first embodiment,
the solid state lighting lamp 10 in this embodiment does not
comprise an optical housing 20. Instead, the respective elongate
heatsink modules 40 are coupled with the inner body 30 in which the
driver 80 of the SSL elements 50 is housed. The body 30, i.e. the
driver housing, may be made of any suitable material. The body 30
preferably is made of a lightweight material, e.g. a polymer
material or the like to limit the overall weight of the solid state
lighting lamp 10.
Preferably, each elongate heatsink module 40 comprises at least a
pair of elongate circular pillars or tongues 42 that each slot into
a matching elongate circular channel or groove 32 on the body 30.
As will be understood by the skilled person and as is clear from
for example FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the channels or grooves 32 are open
structures comprising an opening through which a portion of the
elongate heating module 40 onto which the circular pillar or tongue
42 is mounted can slide through the groove or channel, as for
example can be clearly seen in FIG. 5, in which for the sake of
clarity one of the elongate heatsink modules 40 is only partially
slotted into its channels or grooves 32 on the body 30, i.e. the
housing of the driver 80. In this embodiment, the elongate heatsink
modules 40 preferably are made by extrusion, which has the
advantage over techniques such as die casting or forging that the
heatsink modules can be made more thinly, thereby limiting the
overall weight of the solid state lighting lamp 10. For example,
the elongate heatsink modules 40 may be extruded aluminium heatsink
modules, as aluminium is particularly suitable as a metal in
extrusion processes. As before, the driver 80 may be mounted within
the body 30 in any suitable manner, for example by a carrier 81 of
the driver 80 slotting into opposing grooves 35 in a tongue and
groove fashion as previously explained. This is most clearly shown
in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of such an
elongate heatsink module 40 in more detail. Each elongate heatsink
module 40 comprises an outward facing surface 44 onto which the SSL
elements 50 are mounted either directly or a carrier 55 as
previously explained. The outward facing surface 44 typically is
shaped such that the elongate heatsink module 40 comprises a recess
43 in which the SSL elements 50 are housed. Each recess 43 is
covered by an optical element 51, which optical element 51
typically is made of an optically transmissive material, e.g. an
optical grade polymer such as polycarbonate, polyethylene
terephthalate or poly (methyl methacrylate), or any other suitable
optical grade polymer.
The optical element 51 may act as a cover plate for the SSL
elements 50 although in some embodiments the optical element 51 may
perform an additional optical function, such as a lens function, a
diffuser or scattering function, or the like. The optical element
51 may be secured against the elongate heatsink module 40 in any
suitable manner. In an example embodiment as schematically depicted
in FIG. 7, the opposing ends 52 of the optical element 51 may
define a U-shaped profile with the outward facing surface 44 of the
elongate heatsink modules 40 comprising a pair of opposing elongate
tongues 49 arranged such that the optical module 51 may be slotted
onto the elongate heatsink module 40 by sliding the U-shaped
opposing ends 52 over the elongate tongues 49 in a tongue and
groove fashion.
Each elongate heating module 40 may further comprise an inward
facing surface 46 coupled to the outward facing surface 44 through
a support rib 47. The inward facing surface 46 generally may have a
U-shape terminating in the elongate pillars or tongues 42 for
mating with the body 30 as previously explained. This may serve a
number of purposes. Firstly, the separate inward facing surface 46
may be spaced apart from the outward facing surface 44 at any
distance by appropriate dimensioning of the support rib 47. In
addition, the support rib 47 may improve the structural rigidity of
the elongate heatsink module 40 without substantially increasing
the overall weight of the elongate heatsink module 40. Furthermore,
the increased surface area of the elongate heatsink module 40 by
the inclusion of the inward facing surface 46 improves the heat
transfer capabilities of the elongate heatsink module 40 such that
a larger number of SSL elements 50 may be mounted on each elongate
heatsink module 40, thereby increasing the luminous power of the
solid state lighting lamp 10. However, it should be understood that
the inward facing surface 46 may be omitted from the design of the
elongate heatsink module 40, in which case the elongate pillars or
tongues 42 may be attached to the main body including the outward
facing surface 44 of the elongate heatsink module 40.
As with the first embodiment, the solid state lighting lamp further
comprises a cap 70 as schematically depicted in the perspective
view of FIG. 8 and a base 60 including an electrical connector 65
as schematically depicted in the perspective view of FIG. 9, with
the elongate heatsink modules 40 extending between the cap 70 and
the base 60 as previously explained. As previously explained, the
electrical connector 65 may be any suitable type of connector. In
an embodiment, the cap 70 comprises air vents 75 to allow hot air
to escape from the solid state lighting lamp 10 through convection
or by forcing the hot air from the lamp with a fan as previously
explained. In addition to the air vents 75 in the cap 70, the solid
state lighting lamp 10 may further comprise air vents 63 in the
base 60 such that an air flow substantially in parallel with the
central axis 15 of the solid state lighting lamp 10 through the air
vents 63 in the base 60 and the air vents 75 in the cap 70 may be
facilitated in order to transfer the heat collected by the elongate
heatsink modules 40 during operation of the SSL elements 50 away
from the solid state lighting lamp 10 to improve the thermal
management of the solid state lighting lamp 10.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate
rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art
will be able to design many alternative embodiments without
departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any
reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed
as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the
presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim.
The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the
presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be
implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct
elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of
these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.
The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of
these measures cannot be used to advantage.
* * * * *